Hello Family & Friends,
I've created this Blog to discuss OUR candidate of choice for the Next President of the United States. The candidates are currently going head-to-head in debates, caucuses, and popularity contests. There is a growing divide in the Democratic Party, due to the voices of both Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton. To move this country FORWARD, I (JOHN W.FRASER III) truly believe the "Hope and Reason for Change" goes through the young & aspiring US-Senator, Barack Obama. Some feel he's not ready (he's "inexperienced", they say), he has no plan, etc.
I find one thing valid in all these claims, ALL of our candidates, are INEXPERIENECED! None of them have run this country as President or Vice-President. Let's talk about the issues at hand, and stay focused to the opportunity for change. Do you want to be part of history? We ALL will witness history in the next few months: Either we'll see the first Black President or the first Woman as President. For those who have kids, all this is very inspirational, but all the back and forth bickering needs to stop.
Let's stick to the GOAL at hand, and get this country moving in the direction where the entire world BEGINS to RESPECT US again! George "Dubya" Bush screwed that up...
We have problems in the COUNTRY, FINANCIAL SECTORS, etc, if you think about it, WE ARE IN WORST SHAPE since Bush took over….
OBAMA is the KEY. Not just because he's black. Do me a favor: Close your eyes, listen to the ideas of the candidates...Ask yourself, "WHO INSPIRES YOU AGAIN"? For me, you got my answer...
**NOTE***Voting time is coming up for the FLORIDIANS on Jan. 29th (and) it’s unfortunate we are not having our voting day on the "FEB 5th" like a majority of our states.....
So, I'm done introducing my BLOG, so, please chime in and Lets TALK Politics!
JWFIII
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
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56 comments:
First and Foremost, I'm so happy to see that John is taking a leadership role and starting a conversation about something that will impact all of us.
Now, as far as the elections. I hope everyone watched the SC debates. According to Neilson Ratings, it was the most watched Presidential Primary Debate in history. With that said, what did we learn about our canditate. In my opinion, not much. John Edwards appeared like the only condidate on stage that was able to stick to the issues at hand, while Barrack and Hillary took part in a full 12 round bout. One thing that really stood out was when Barrack was called out on his voting record. I don't think he did a good job of explaining the whole "present" issue. Based on his explanation, he voted "present" not because he was against some of the legislation as much as there where provisions in them that he didn't agree with. If that's the case, shouldn't he vote no in hopes of sending the bill back to the committee to be re-written instead of obstaining and letting the bill pass. Some of these bills, did pass. I took the liberty to do some research on his voting record in IL. Barrack did not take a definite stand on certain issues. Whatever his reason as a leader, you have to be willing to say yay or nay! By not voting, you are not taking part in the process, no matter what the rules are. Now, he wants us to vote for him because he's "The Reason for Change & Hope". I think it's time that he starts telling us how he intends to bring about this change. I'm tired of the same old rhetoric that all polititians use.
I do believe that he his the right person for the job, not because he's black but because he's not part of the "system". At least, I hope is not part of the system. It will be interesting to see if all the people who are talking about supporting Barrack will show and vote for him when it counts.
Proud of you John.
Greg
Thanks Sinista!
Way to go John....
I want to start by saying I did not watch the debate but follow most articles and listen to talk radio every morning. My question is What will they actually change...price of gas? I am almost to the point where I don't believe one person has the power to change anything. We need to focus on changing the way we treat one another and then maybe then we will see some change in the world. If you know someone that could use a helping hand help this person out! Treat your neighbor how you would want to be treated....I will vote because its important for us to "play the part" ....look in the mirror before leaving your house everyday and ask yourself... How you can I change? influence
Just in case anyone wants to read about some of the accusations that both Hillary and Barack where throwing at each other read this article on factcheck.org - http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/clinton-obama_slugfest.html
I'm looking forward to reading more!
Great Blog John!
Personally, I don't have an issue with Barrack and Hillary going at it in the debates. As President of the United States, you'll have to go head to head with people on a regular basis. What I'm more concerned about is how the candidates respond to each other and how they handle themselves. If backed into a corner, do you come out swinging uncontrollably? Or do you defend yourself with intelligence, tact, and grace? This is a pressure-cooker situation, can you handle it?
So bring on the debate! Put the candidates to the test. What better time to see how they handle themselves under pressure than when they are battling it out for the nomination? Whoever wins will have to do it all over again in the big race, and over and over again as President.
If you can't take the heat...you know the rest
Junia
John,
I am very proud of you that you are standing up for a cause that you believe in. I love the name of your blog and can feel your heartfelt emotion reaching out. However, I have to disagree with you.
I dont understand how you can say that George W. has gotten us into this mess. Don't you realize that when elected president they are usually cleaning up the mess from the previous president! That leaves us with our buddy Bill, who as we know screwed everyone from Monica to the American public from within those walls of the Oval office.
I think that family and politics don't mix (smiles) but I dont think Obama and or Hilary in in the White House is what this country needs. I think that every person in this country first during this election has to ask themselves am I voting for this person because of the color of their skin, or because I believe in the issues this candidate supports and that this individual will get this country where we want to go.
In celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King's birhtday this week - you cannot forget the speech he made - "Judge no man by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character." Have you checked into the content of character of your candidate?
Unfortunately, I believe that age does matter in this race, call me old school, but I think that our youngest Presidents have run this country into the ground and that we do need someone with a few more years behind them.
I look forward to your blog, and hope it remains an open forum for you, your friends and family to post.
Peace,
Natalie
Natalie,
Thank you for your response. I have nothing but love for you my God Mother...So, let's get started!
Well, for one, I disagree with you. Yes, Bill Clinton screwed Monica L, but what other President hasn't done something crazy like that. George Bush? Oh, he just screwed up the country...
Do me a favor; go purchase this book, "The Return of the Imperial Presidency and the Subversion of American Democracy"
Yes, maybe family and politics don't mix, but I'm "perplexed" personally on what you say. You HONESTLY think this country is way better off with the job that G. "DUBYA" Bush has done...We're 1 dollar away from a friggin recession...I understand your beliefs and respect it, but I sure don't agree with it. As a man of "Character" myself, I don't look at my candidate of choice based off "race, color or creed". So, for one to base their decision off MLK's Dream, - "Judge no man by the color of his skin, but by the content of his character." One's character is determined if they can rise themselves from trials and tribulations, to maintain and reach respectability and honor, as we all have made mistakes. From arguing with family members to engaging in sex acts at an early age, drinking underage, theft, drugs, etc..One has the option and chance to make a difference and change in their lives.
Honestly, with each successive year, the Bush-Cheney administration gets scarier and undoubtedly more out of control. Political grabs for power have always been the name of the game in Washington, but the current White House has taken it to new and unprecedented levels, subverting the Constitution along the way.
P.S. Don't you think it’s a coincidence that B.S. comes out in the media, to try and destroy a man's character?
Don't get it twisted, Barack being a black man is just a bonus...I look at the issues identified by all candidates, and make my judgment.
I've been on the radar of Barack Obama since his powerful speech at in 2004 in Boston
P.S.S. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
I believe 1 more month of Presidency by GW Bush would further cripple this nation.
Yes, I identify with Mr. Obama for mistakes made at an earlier age during my lifetime, but, you know what makes me feel proud, seeing a true candidate come into this race (pardon the pun) and cause all this concern that Finally, there's a candidate that all the United States filled with vast DIVERSITY, actually sees a chance and a possibility that Dr. Martin Luther "THE" King, JR,'s Dream, may come to fruition on January 20th, 2008, where a WOMAN or MAN (no race and no gender) will be sworn in on MLK JR's birthday.
That day will be an inspirational day for all children, as now, ANY person qualified to run this country, WILL ACTUALLY have a chance, and not be based of COLOR OR GENDER, as the best candidate to Bring the Country Back together.
I am very proud of my Hubby to say the least!! This is great! OK...Here are my thoughts thus far, I haven't been as up to date as I could be on the debates; However,I have John filling me in on what I miss, along with added talk from the morning radio shows especially with my favorite Tavis Smiley!! Chiming in here and there.
I believe that all the bickering between Hillary and Barack needs to stop, as it just makes them look bad! And waste precious time needed to tackle the real pressing issues at hand. It is a debate.... so lets just debate on some... strong, meaningful, and well over due issues. For starters gas, healthcare costs, cost of living!! Hello!! Anyone paying attention out there!! That's what I'm talking bout!! By the way, did we finally find the weapons of mass destruction yet? And, gas is still high as hell!! People are still terrorizing, The airport rules continue to be modified, and the economy is falling to the pits!! More and more homes are being foreclosed,as the "For Sale" and For Rent signs keep on going up!!!
And oh! Everyone still hates us (America)!! Are we taking care of the people who are suffering from respiratory conditions after 911?
UMMMMMMM!!!!
Our younger generations come up ignorant,carefree,illiterate, and mis-informed. As crime goes up, and our main topic for news is....Britney Spears wearing her wedding dress to shop for a car. What's really going on in our country today???
Oh, I'm just warming up!! I think everyone jumps on the band wagon, and rides along when these slick politicians and Haters!! Pull their tactical stunts to drive everyone away from the true issues of the debate. I say if you want to find out about what's in Baracks book, BUY THE BOOK!! READ THE BOOK!! OR better yet, make low blow comments, and help him sell the book!! OR even better SHUT UP!!! You all know who I'm referring to....Why is it that it's always our own kind who gotta get up there looking like a you know what!!!
ALL I want to know is... ask not what we can do for you..but come on election day, and tell the people what you are willing to do as the President to make America a thriving economy again.
How are you going to change things, and why is your strategy better than the other man or woman's? Don't just talk, tell me,show me,and make me understand what you are saying. Speak to the people on all levels, all races,from all walks of life...as did Martin Luther the King did. I am sick and tired of the same old rhetoric of pass the blame from president to president...let's face it we voted the last president in while in a bad dream!! Had to be a dream...how did he sneak in...Guess again,he didn't, so WAKE THE HELL up America!! We should be choosing our president, not have one thrown on ous. Last but not least, this is great, i enjoy sharing my thoughts with all of you...keep up the talk.
Also Nat...I must disagree with you on the George Bush thing... He doesn't know if he is coming or going...all he has done is turn dirt to mud!!! And embarrass the country!!! Leaving with that Shame!!! And tons of enemies!! Besides, I'm tired of these old bags!! I need a new young face...Just one that's gonna make a change, has intelligence, and can go to Bat with the issues we face!!
Forget who did what, just let's not let it happen again....We NEED CHANGE, CHANGE NOW...My advice is be sure you spread the word...your word does matter, and everyone needs to take matters in their hands and go VOTE!! GET your facts together, make a decision, and may the best candidate win!!!
Until Later!! Keep up the good work, Lets Talk!!
I am very proud to see that young Americans are getting involved in
politics...because with YOU there
will come "CHANGE"...no matter,
what color or gender this country
needs fresh ideas. "CHANGE" starts
with dialogue (without hard feelings) for one's opinions. I think that by November you will have a definitive choice on the ballot AND when you check the box for your candidate..that is what makes you an AMERICAN.
PS...let's hope it's a woman or a black man...NOW THAT'S CHANGE!
John,
It is absolutely wonderful that you took the time to create a forum in which intelligent discussions about "real" issues in our society can be addressed. I agree with you in that before we go out to the voting polls- we need to be inspired . Inspiration can be defined as: divine guidance or influence exerted directly on the mind and soul of humankind.
Well, Obama has influenced my soul; and not because of the color of his skin, but the content of his character. He speaks about bringing forth change which is well overdue. Obama says it best in his BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE: "It is critically important that those of us who want to lead this nation be open, candid, and clear with the American people about how we will move forward.
As an educator, I believe the biggest change needs to take place in education. Too many of our children (especially minority) are significantly below grade level in reading and will never catch up to their peers. For this reason, it is crucial that we elect a president (OBAMA) who is going to implement national policies which will bring about positive change within the educational system. That so called "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND " was a joke!!! Just a bandage to attempt to cover up the real issues within our educational system.
NCLB wants to have highly qualified teachers in the classoom, but where are the resources to obtain and sustain these teachers. Because of the lack of support and underpayment, we lose teachers at a rate of 30% with in the first five years. Which has a significant impact on overall student achievement.
We need to check ourselves, and rememember our youth holds our future. We need to stop depending on BET, PS3 and Reality TV to educate our children. LETS EDUCATE OUR YOUTH TOGETHER!!!!! PARENTS, TEACHERS, COMMUNITY, AMERICA!!!
We need to have a president (Obama) who is going to fight for our future generation. A President who is going to make going to college a reality for our children, a president who is going to be a role model for every African-American male out there.
Let me wrap this thing up,because I can go on and on about education and how it has a profound impact on our children.
We need CHANGE,and WE need it now. FLORIDIANS..... JAN 29TH.... PRIMARY.... GET OUT AND VOTE!!!OBAMA BABY IN 08'
This is very interesting. Most of my black peers are voting for Obama for various reasons. I sense that one of the reasons that they are voting for him is a pride that this man was able to rise to the top with dignity and grace. However, that alone can not sway me to give him my vote. I have read many things and I have my own beliefs on many issues. His views do not necessary reflect mine. I would have a hard time defending myself if I voted for Barack. So I really ask most of my friends and peers... WHY OBAMA? I don't trust politics enough for a "hope" for a change. He is part of the system whether he wants to admit to it or not. This system is designed that even the most honest (HONEST ABE) is found out not to be so honest. Our president is not king. His rule is not final. THere are a lot of avenues and red tapes that are placed to prevent this.
Obama's legitimacy on the line in bitter South Carolina contest (Check out this article from CNN.com)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/25/sc.primary/index.html
It's amazing to me how for this past week people are bringing in race and/or gender. I have notice it before but every sound bit (lately)I hear is black man this woman that. Wheras before he either wasn't black enough or the whole race thing wasn't an issue. I was very happy the way the Democrats dealt with this before they realized that Barack was indeed a black man. And Hilary was a woman......OK.(ranting over) I have just watched CNN and FOX for the last two hours and just have reached my boiling point with the whole race and gender issue. At first I thought it was interesting when CNN had a special on it, now it's getting out of hand. In my opinion, the top three candidates could have had my vote. I like what each candidate have to say and offer. And genuinely believe that they are here for a change. However, now that it's a gender and race issue, the real issues like war, health care, and our economics are suffering. Why are we so black and white or male and female oriented here in America? Third world countries have risen to the occasion and voted on sincere leadership (from any gender)faster than this democracy have. WHy is that?
and yes I was anonymous... I could figure out this sign in thing... sorry
Its very disappointing that for all the Democratic Florida voters on January 29th, our votes will be heard, but no delegates will be awarded due to the state of Florida being penalized for moving their primary up from February 5th. No matter what my family and friend, let's still turnout in numbers never see before..........................No matter what candidate your voting for, remember this statement,
"YES WE CAN!!!"
"YES WE CAN!! YES WE CAN!!"
Its not over folks, but, last night's victory in South Carolina for Barack Obama, is a great sign that people are indeed, "hungry for change"!
Its very inspirational to see history in the making...
"The choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders,". "It's not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white".
"It's about Past Versus The Future"
-Barack Obama
Obama: “The Past Versus the Future”
Posted by Maria Gavrilovic (from CBSnews.com)
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Barack Obama routed his opponents in South Carolina, partly because voters wanted change, his campaign said.
“Tonight was a rejection of the politics of the past,” Obama campaign communications director Robert Gibbs told reporters. “South Carolina voters spoke for a politics that will bring us together.”
CBS News exit polling showed that 54 percent of voters said that the ability for a candidate to bring about change mattered most in how they decided who to vote for today. And of those 54 percent, 3/4 of them voted for Obama.
Obama’s victory speech stayed on message but he did not let up against opponents despite the victory.
“There are real differences between the candidates. We are looking for more than just a change of party in the White House. We’re looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington – a status quo that extends beyond any particular party,” Obama said, “And right now, that status quo is fighting back with everything it’s got.”
Obama told the crowd several times the election will not be easy because of “distractions and drama.” “We are up against the idea that it’s acceptable to say anything and do anything to win an election,” Obama said.
“It’s the politics that uses religion as a wedge, and patriotism as a bludgeon. A politics that tells us that we have to think, act, and even vote within the confines of the categories that supposedly define us.”
Obama was determined to convey that his win was due to more than just the African American vote, though exit polls showed that 55 percent of voters today were black and Obama won 78 percent of the black vote.
Throughout his speech, he spoke about the diversity of his supporters and the people who he met.
“I did not travel around this state over the last year and see a white South Carolina or a black South Carolina. I saw South Carolina,” Obama said.
“The choice in this election is not between regions or religions or genders. It’s not about rich versus poor; young versus old; and it is not about black versus white. It’s about the past versus the future.”
**Breaking News***
Sen. Ted Kennedy is about to announce his "full endorsement" for Sen. Barack Obama in a few minutes on television...
Obama: Victory proves he has wide backing
‘The most votes, the most delegates, and the most diverse coalition’
COLUMBIA, S.C. - An exultant Barack Obama said his overwhelming win in South Carolina disproved notions that Democratic voters are deeply divided along racial lines.
"We have the most votes, the most delegates, and the most diverse coalition of Americans we've seen in a long, long time," the Illinois senator told joyful supporters at a rally. "They are young and old; rich and poor. They are black and white; Latino and Asian."
As if anticipating his remarks, his supporters chanted "Race doesn't matter" before Obama took the stage in Columbia, and again as he spoke for 20 minutes.
Obama praised runners-up Hillary Rodham Clinton and John Edwards without naming them. But he took a veiled shot at the sometimes edgy comments made by the former first lady and former President Clinton in recent days.
"We're looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington," Obama said. "And right now, that status quo is fighting back with everything it's got; with the same old tactics that divide and distract us from solving the problems people face."
"We are up against the idea that it's acceptable to say anything and do anything to win an election," Obama said. "We know that this is exactly what's wrong with our politics. This is why people don't believe what their leaders say anymore. This is why they tune out. And this election is our chance to give the American people a reason to believe again."
The crowd repeatedly chanted, "Yes we can!"
With wins in heavily white Iowa and in South Carolina, where about half of Saturday's voters were black, Obama said he has proven he can win in any region.
He said he wants to disprove "the assumption that young people are apathetic" and "the assumption that African-Americans can't support the white candidate; whites can't support the African-American candidate; blacks and Latinos can't come together."
Even as he spoke, Obama got a boost from Caroline Kennedy, daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy.
"Over the years, I've been deeply moved by the people who've told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president," she wrote in the Sunday's edition of The New York Times. "That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama."
After his speech, Obama flew to Macon, Ga., where he planned to attend a church service Sunday before campaigning in Birmingham, Ala. He planned to return to Washington to attend President Bush's State of the Union address Monday night.
Voting Day is 1 Day away...Your voice needs to be heard! No Matter the circumstances!!
JWFIII
Discover your position in the political landscape for the USA Presidential election of 2008
www.electoralcompass.com
JWFIII for President !!!! LOL... naw... good job starting up this blog... I totally agree with the comment about Obama not being part of the "SYSTEM".... think about it the same two families have run the country for the past 20 years... Bush Daddy (4 years), Clinton (8 years), Dubya (8 years) = 20 years... If Hillary wins...24 maybe 28 years... It's time for a new direction! And Obama is the closest thing away from the current "SYSTEM".
A big high 5 for you John in developing this blog- YAYYYY i voted today- Now I am still on the fence still and picked my presidential candidate by a "pre- k game of tic tac president" as it simply didn't matter since Florida doesn't count anyway...needless to say my vote went for the underdog. I didn't choose Obama b/c like MJ, I simply dont understand his methodology. In other words, I see his platform but how is going to get there? If someone asks me why i voted for him, other than him being black and he's charismatic, I wouldnt' have anything CONCRETE to add. And as voters, I hope we can be a little more sophiscated in our thinking in solely picking someone by the color of their skin or their gender. Now in saying that, I strongly believe that Barack will make the Democractic ticket and when he does, even if my ignorant voice says "b/c he's black, charismatic"- my vote will go for him being President. I know people are tired of WORMs (White old republican men) and are looking for that "change" (that word is so ambiguous to me right now) so i have no doubt in my mind that He will end up as President...
I have a request though: Can we take a trip to the white house when he's sworn in??? i have a feeling that the world's biggest Cupid shuffle will take place on the lawn and I want to be there! :)
Thanks Derdine for your support and input on "THE BLOG"! Well, for one, like I told your husband, I'm down with renting a RV and riding up on 95 North to go see that inauguration!!
Ok, here's my outlook....
I'm an independent and will remain that way until/unless one party COMPLETELY represents each and everyone of my beliefs. I'd rather vote for the individual running instead of for the party. I have seen some Republican candidates in my lifetime that are better than some Democratic candidates....and vice versa.
Having said that, I'm only going to speak on behalf of the Democratic party for now because I'm leaning more to that side for this election. Can anyone tell me 3 reasons NOT TO vote for Barack? As well as 3 reasons NOT TO vote for Hillary? Derdine, one of those reasons can't be "because i don't see how he is going to fulfill his promises" for me. I only say that because so far I have been able to research and find out what Obama's PLAN has been for each of his initiatives....at least to the same extent as any other candidate now or before. Meaning...there ARE some initiatives where the PLAN of action remains a bit vague, but that is the same across the board!
To sum it up for me, I loved Bill Clinton because he addressed the issues I was most concerned with at the time, and I love Barack Obama because he addresses the issues I am most concerned with right now. That AND being a charismatic leader who is favored (and stands a good chance to improve relations with) by the majority of the global community are just a FEW of my reasons for supporting him. Oh, and probably at the BOTTOM OF THAT LIST is because he is Black. I'm excited to see we may have our first Black president, but I would definitely not vote for Rev Jesse Jackson if he was running, so why would i vote for Barack if I didn't think he was a good candidate?
Anyway, i have to get back to work so i'll cut this short. Catch yall lata! HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS 2008 to everyone!! :)
Bjorn Baker-Hendricks
Hello everyone...
First, I must commend my cousin for initiating a forum that allows us to communicate with one another. I am equally excited that he has encouraged us to discuss our beliefs, ideas, suggestions, etc., all of which can and will greatly impact this nation. It is my understanding that we live in a country that permits the people to select individuals who represent our ideologies, etc. It is therefore imperative that we take the time to find out what each candidate plans to do that will prove beneficial for all of us...and more importantly our children. I have had an opportunity to watch the debates and I am convinced that it is time for CHANGE. It is evident we need a leader who is able to meet the expectations of president and more importantly go above and beyond our expectations. In watching the debates, I have found there are candidates that "appear" to be interested in progressing and meeting the needs of all of us. But at the same time, I am not convinced that they are "invested" nor are they prepared to meet the challenges that lie ahead as a result of years of the Bush administration-a dishonest and reprehensible presidency. On the other hand, there is Barack Obama. I believe it is fair to say that he is an excellent candidate. There are a number of adjectives one could use to describe this man. It seems to me that he is an inspiration and an advocate for growth. It is clear (when considering the number of people who have turned out to vote) that he has the ability to provoke an interest in politics that we have not seen in a number of years. There is a sincerity that is noted when he addresses a crowd and compassion that is recognized when he speaks about issues that are causing divisions in our homes, school, churches, places of business, communities, cities, etc. He's a God-fearing man, a family man, a Senator, a Harvard Law graduate, and the first black president of the Harvard Law Review to name a few. Based off of what was previously noted, reading his book, The Audacity of Hope, and having had an opportunity to learn more about him, I am confident those characteristics/responsibilites suggest he has the "experience" to not only be the President of the United States but an effective leader who will ignite the people of this nation to participate and assertively be a part of the future of this nation. I have the "audacity" to believe that a man who has acknowleged making mistakes and living life can and will encourage other people to make the necessary changes to become dignified and allow us to be all that God intended for us to be. I could go on and list the reasons I feel Barack Obama is an excellent candidate and simultaneously lists reasons why I do not feel other Democratic candidates or Republican candidates would be the appropriate choice. But instead, I will close by saying, "YES, WE CAN!!"
I really love this blog ....
I'm really disturbed by the number of people that I heard saying there was not point in voting in the primary yesterday because it didn't matter. It does matter. It gives a candidate momentum going into "Super Tuesday". Also, let's not forget that ultimately the Presidential Race is a popularity contest (unless your name is George W. Bush).
I've been reading all the messages on John's blog daily. Everyone is very passionate and eloquent in stating their views. We can list all the pros and cons for every candidate. We all have our opinions, but let's take this conversation to another level.
I hope we will all agree that the President of the United State is an institution and not a person. Do we all agree? This institution has been around since 1789 when Washington took his oath. Every presidential candidate (that I can remember) has campaigned on the promise of "change". Not much as changed, because there is a structured system that the "institution" must work within. Like many of you, I've been researching all the canditate and they all have these interesting "comprehensive plans" promising to bring about change. Do we really believe that the system allows them to accomplish most of what they are preaching? I don't. In order to bring about change, the system has to change.
So, here's the million dollar question .... How do we change the system? I have my own theory, but i'm interested in reading what other people think.
I will say it again....CHANGE YOURSELF! THEN CHANGE WILL COME....
Good Afternoon Folks,
I've been seeing some great activity and conversation the last few days....Well, it’s time for me to jump back in into "THE BLOG" and talk...
Greg,
I would just like to say "Great Post"
Well, I totally agree with what Katrina said, CHANGE YOURSELF! THEN CHANGE WILL COME...." That is the best place to start.
From there, taking the time to really look at what's wrong with the country?
1) Poverty- There is no reason this country is so "rich" in $$, that we still have people living in the streets. What can we do? HOW ABOUT, "CARE!" I suggest as a great way to give back: How about spending more time in the community and try and help the less fortunate. I know that everyone that has posted a post on this blog is of great character and dedication to bigger and better things. Our actions speak louder than words...
**Side note**from members of my family to friends I have been lucky be part of my great inner circle. (Of course, it always starts at home with your parents!)
You all have been VERY VERY POSITIVE PEOPLE. I've experienced a lot of growing up over the years (YES, I ADMIT IT), and I've been blessed to know and experience different moments of my life with you in the "Life and Times of J.Fraser".
I would just like to say "THANK YOU"!
2) Be part of the decisions that are being made w/o your knowledge (i.e. - Democratic Primary in the State of Florida-There should have been no way all of our "valuable" votes didn't count' on January 29th".
3) Take more responsibility in what we take in (Mentally, healthwise, and lifewise) -- (Wow, Kat, you like that, huh!) (I.E.- BET Network--Doesn't anyone else have an issue with every "other" commercial or TV show on BET, are either "Kentucky Fried Chicken/Popeye’s" or the documentaries "Beef"-when all they show is everyone "smoking and doing their thing"....Ask yourself- Would MTV play that? If some of you don’t know, Viacom owns both MTV and BET. What's the difference on what they play? A lot more BS ends up on BET for our kids to see...
4) For those parents out there and those future parents (I.E. Greg and Derdine, Shai and myself to name a few), we need to really take the time to make sure our kids value the opportunity to read and write strongly, understand life lessons, and allow them to ask the question "WHY, RESPECTFULLY". I've been blessed to be part or associate with many people and cultures. That is something I love and respect.....There's a whole lot more in this world than 1 place and 1 experience. So, try and experience it all if you can...
**How can things not change for the better? We have to "HOPE" and "DREAM OF CHANGE". Do your part and I promise the way you lead and set an example for yourself and others, will have a profound effect on the way you live your life and the decisions you make for a lot more people than you think.
I love "The Blog" for a majority of reasons (#1- I started it!) That's cool, but honestly, the best reason is to actually have the opportunity to discuss many issues and concerns in everyone's minds as the days draw near a possible "HISTORICAL EVENT" that Martin Luther "THE KING", JR, would smile and say, "I've been to the mountaintop.....” and "My Dream" is coming to FRUITION...Now, that's what I call forth sight..."
I would like to leave you all with a quote of "Inspiration and Hope”....
"Each person comes into this world with a specific destiny--he has something to fulfill, some message has to be delivered, some work has to be completed. You are not here accidentally--you are here meaningfully. There is a purpose behind you. The "CHANGE" you intend to do in this lifetime" has to come through you"
-OSHO
JWFIII
**BREAKING NEWS***More Kennedy MOJO!
On stage with Oprah and Caroline Kennedy, Maria Shriver (whose governor husband backs McCain) shows up on stage and endorses Obama.
It was, as a reader e-mails, "probably the most exciting thing to happen on C-Span in a very long time."
Shriver said she'd just woken up this morning and decided to endorse.
“There is no place I wanted to be but here today,” said Shriver. “This election is about a moment. This is a moment not just for the United States of America, not just for the Democratic Party, but this is a moment for California. The more I thought about it, I thought, if Barack Obama was a state, he’d be California. Think about it: diverse, open, smart, independent, bucks tradition, innovative, inspiring, dreamer, leader.”
“But this is a moment. It’s a moment to have a conversation with yourself. Do I believe in an America that's about unity, about coming together, it's about seeing beyond the labels? We’ve got to see beyond the labels that divide us. And if that's the kind of America I want, I think it will be very clear to you what you should do on Tuesday.”
This rally replays on CNN @10pm this evening (Sunday, Feb 3rd, 2008)
Obama aims to please in the RED STATES! (From Cnn.com)
BOISE, Idaho — Sen. Barack Obama poked his head out from the black curtain to briefly take in the sight: more than 13,000 potential supporters, screaming and high strung, at the Taco Bell Arena on a Saturday morning.
Less than 72 hours before the biggest primary election day in American history, Obama traveled to one of the country’s most conservative states.
In Idaho, it is simply not normal to see a candidate whose week began with an endorsement from Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, ended with one from MoveOn.org and, in the middle, brought word of a new magazine ranking as the Senate’s most liberal member.
“Can you believe it?” Obama asked Saturday from the stage as he surveyed the arena, which was filled to capacity.
Yes, Obama wants to capture more votes and delegates than Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton when 22 states hold Democratic caucuses or primaries Tuesday.
But the Illinois senator acknowledges a parallel objective: bragging rights.
After months of selling his candidacy as a post-partisan endeavor, Obama wants Tuesday to prove that he really can appeal across party lines and take states such as Idaho, Kansas and North Dakota, which voted Republican in 2004.
“When you look at the map on Feb. 6, our goal is to have it show that we are able to compete in states across the country,” said Jen Psaki, an Obama spokeswoman.
Kathie Brack, 54, a Democrat who turned out at the Boise rally in a T-shirt that read “Blue Girl, Red State,” said Obama would get mileage out of being the only Democrat to appear in the state.
“It never happens,” said Brack, a paralegal. “Everybody just gives up on Idaho.”
A broad win Tuesday could also help Obama deflect a line of attack already taking shape among the GOP.
Reprising an attack used against John F. Kerry in 2004, the Republican National Committee dubbed Obama “#1 LIBERAL SENATOR” in a press release ahead of his visit Saturday to Minnesota.
The committee’s source was the National Journal, which ranked Obama as most liberal senator and Clinton as the 16th in its annual study of voting records.
“In spite of all the feel-good rhetoric, Barack Obama fundamentally lacks the experience, leadership and accomplishments necessary to be commander in chief,” the release stated. “Given his extreme partisanship, status as the candidate of MoveOn.org and his position as the nation’s most liberal senator, Minnesotans won’t be fooled by Obama.”
Since winning the primary last Saturday in South Carolina, Obama has spent nearly as much time in Missouri, New Mexico and Idaho as California, which will award more than three times the number of delegates. He also traveled to Kansas, Colorado and Alabama. He had initially planned to visit Utah on Saturday but canceled out of respect for the funeral of Gordon Hinckley, the president of the Mormon Church.
The thousands of people who lined up before dawn at Boise State University gave Obama hope that his Republican state gamble might pay off.
“So they told me there weren’t any Democrats in Idaho,” Obama said. “That’s what they told me. But I didn’t believe them.”
As proof, he came prepared.
Appearing in a state with a significant Mormom population, Obama paid respects to Hinckley.
And in a nod to Idaho’s strong pro-Second Amendment sentiments, Obama told the arena that he had “no intention of taking away people’s guns.”
Clinton suggested to reporters Saturday night that Obama had changed his position on gun control.
“Well, he has to speak to his own record, which has obviously changed over a relatively short period of time,” she said aboard her campaign plane.
But Obama aides said the senator has been consistent by supporting lawful gun owners and hunters while favoring common-sense gun control measures.
Obama leaves red-state territory Sunday for the more Democratic-dominated Northeast, holding a rally in Delaware.
He will, however, take an afternoon detour to the Midwest, where he will watch the Super Bowl from his Chicago home before flying back to the East Coast for events in northern New Jersey, Connecticut and Boston.
Oops, the last blog post, that article was taken from Politico.com and not Cnn!
JWFIII
John,
This is a fantastic political forum. I am very happy to participate and proud that you initiated it. Political thought, speech, and discourse is our most protected, treasured, and valued freedom/right.
I voted for Barack Obama in the Florida Primary and I am very proud of that vote. I am exhilerated by his candidacy. He is, without question, the most gifted and inspiring orator of our time. His message, his appeal, his game is flawless. Obama is a powerful speaker who touches people. I respect and admire his boldness in seizing the Democratic top-spot away from the Clintons, however I question Obama’s toughness. I question his political grit, his political fortitude, and his political effectiveness. Can he really do anything other than give an inspiring speech? I am not thrilled by the “Kum Ba Yah,” “Why can’t we all just get along,” theme. I do not believe that political and economic power will be voluntarily relinquished simply because Obama made a speech. Of course his message resonates amongst Democrats because Democrats are suckers for this kind of message. He is smart for making it because he wants to win an election and this is what all candidates say to win elections – even G. W. Bush (he was the compassionate conservative who could reach across party lines and get real work done in DC). Barack is a gifted orator, but Barack is all about compromise, being popular, being well-liked, and being a celebrity. In the current political circumstances, this is a worrisome trait. In order for tangible change to happen Barack Obama must remove and destroy certain interests, entities, and individuals from positions of power, then replace them with interests and agendas of his own. I see no evidence that Barack Obama has the experience, clout, know-how, or nerve for this monumental task. Removing interests from coveted positions of political and economic power means being wildly unpopular, hated, and constantly under attack. This is not Barack Obama. He is not a strongman, which is what you have to be to create and implement systemic change. Look at how distraught he became over the fight with the Clintons - who actually like and respect Obama. The Republicans neither like nor respect Barack Obama. Republicans see Obama as an interesting, articulate, socially acceptable Black person who came out of nowhere to help them defeat the Clintons - their real enemy. Unfortunately, the Democratic party sees Obama the exact same way. Republicans routinely scare voters into voting for their candidates with scary images of black people. Although, the Clintons galvanize Republicans, the Republican political operatives would much rather face Obama than Hillary Clinton because Obama would not, and does not, understand how to handle the Republican electoral machine, which is the most prolific and brutal political machine this county has ever known. It is low-down, nasty, and immoral on unbelieveable, inconceiveable levels. Obama's message is based on the premise and belief that the entrenched political and economic powers are interested in the American people. They are not. Corporate interests such as the war industry (Bechtel, Boeing, Gun Manufacturers, Bomb Manufacturers, Haliburton, the Carlyle Group), Agricultural Corporations, the Health-Care Industry, the Energy Corporations (ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Mining corporations, etc..), Automobile Manufacturers, the Banking Industry (Mortgage corporations, credit card companies), etc... depend upon the general public's submission to their agendas. Their very survival, their sustanence is dependent upon a subservient and docile public. Any person who goes after corporate dominance will pay a price. The Clintons have already established that they can weather whatever threat and attack to be leveled against them. They have also established that they are adept at removing their enemies from power and replacing them. This is why many Republicans say that they will leave the country if Hillary is elected. Hillary is hated amongst conservative Republicans because they fear that their interests will be wiped out if she is elected.
Obama claims he is not beholden to corporate interests, yet he raised more money than any other candidate. He didn’t raise over $100m from individual donors. Wall Street and corporate interests have never been more prevalent. The Financial Times reports that this will be the 1st billion dollar election. I just don’t buy the notion that Obama will stand against corporate interests after taking this amount of corporate dollars for this election. I have not seen proof of this. I believe he will break when its time to do real battle. I don’t see Obama's internal toughness or grit. I do not see his values. Nor do I see the political clout to effect real change that will put universal health care in the hands of the American public. I really wish I saw it.
The Clintons on the other hand have no qualms about screwing people to get their agendas accomplished. Rest assured, they will do whatever needs to be done to run their program. They are warriors who enjoy crushing their enemies. I like this trait because that is how agendas are accomplished. They are political realists - they are the real deal and everyone knows it. If elected, the Clintons are going enact the Black agenda, the Latino agenda, the female agenda, the labor agenda, etc. I am completely comfortable with the Clinton agenda and program. Hillary Clinton is unfriendly, cantankerous, ornery, and mean. She is unlikeable, nor does she want to be liked. She doesn’t care what people think about her. She has exactly what it takes to be a change agent. She is ready for her enemies.
Change does not come without sacrifice or suffering. Obama cannot bring it by himself - If people only get excited about politics when they see advertisements on television during the elections season, the the call for change is just a temporary cliche fad that will fade by March 1, 2009. Will Americans take to the streets to protest the Iraq War to bring our soldiers home? Will Americans give up their luxury motor vehicles? Will everyday Americans stand up for the poor and hungry in their own cities? Will we march for health-care for all? Will Americans bleed for change? Will Obama put himself on the line for the change he so eloquently describes? Martin Kuther King Jr., President John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy sacrificed their lives to change this country. Barack Obama does not strike me as someone who is prepared to sacrifice anything for change. He is a celebrity. He is a media darling who has thus far been untouched by the rough and tumble of American politics. He is being handled and spinned - just like eveyr other candidate for President. He has not proven his authenticity to me.
The Clintons are an enigma (make no mistake - Bill and Hillary are a team - they are the toughest couple in the world - they are one and the same and they don't even attempt to hide this - how's that for family values). Republicans can’t stand the Clintons because, if elected, Republican interests and agendas will be utterly and completely eliminated, then replaced with the Clinton agenda, starting day one. Democrats don’t like the Clintons because they are polarizing and Democrats just want to hold hands in a peaceful utopia. This utopia is not America, and no one is coming together, regardless of who is elected. That's reality. Any Democrat elected will be demonized by Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity and the whole extreme right media outlets. I don’t necessarily like Hillary Clinton’s personality, but then again, she’s not coming to my house for mojitos in the near future. I do not vote for President of the United States of America based upon who I would most like to have pot roast with. This is not a popularity contest. I want universal health care; I want the U.S. military out of Iraq; I want more African-American and Hispanic Federal Judges; I want U.S. economic and political aid to Haiti, just to name a few. I want to get this party started immediately - day one. I do not want talk or speeches - I want it to happen and I want to fight - no compromise - no "Kum Ba Yah." I want the street brawl for these things to happen, because that is what it takes. You cannot negotiate with the war industry. You cannot have "settlement talks" with the health care industry. You have to choke them out. Defeat them. They are in complete control, feasting on the American people. I want a warrior -a proven knock-out artist.
Nobody fears Obama. He doesn’t even know who his enemies are yet. He doesn’t know where his resistance will come from. (He’s never had any resistance in his entire political career). The only resistance he has ever truly encountered is coming from Bill and Hillary Clinton and they are playing touch with him. Just messin’ with him a little bit because that’s what they have to do. That’s the game. How are you going to run for President of the United States of America and not mess with anybody? It’s not possible. It’s not real. Hillary knows who her enemies are and she knows what she is going to do with them. We get a bare-knuckle all-out brawl with Hillary Clinton from day one, and I love it. That's what I want. What’s wrong with being a fighter, a warrior for her causes? I want the bloodsport, the blood is direct evidence of interests being removed and replaced. Don’t give me “Kum Ba Yah,” because I know that change will not come this way. We are a violent nation, whose politics have always been warfare. This country has never ever changed its policies without bloody battle. Look at slavery, segregation/integration, voting rights for women and blacks, the countless wars this country has engaged in, aid for the least of our society, etc. The United States of America is not a peaceful nation - the politics here are not warm and fuzzy - never have been - never will be. I want a President who can handle himself/herself in the White House. The next President has an awesome task ahead. In order to be truly effective in repairing the extensive damage done in the last 8 years, the next President has to have a team and a plan that is locked, loaded, and ready to roll - yesterday. The next President can't put a team together on the fly to tackle the very serious issues that are confronting this country. We are talking about the most serious work imaginable. No time for celebrity.
If Barack Obama is to be President of the U.S., he must demonstrate that he is about the hardcore work of the Presidency - not just reaching across the aisle to make love with Republicans. Not just about changing the tone of our politics. You can improve political civility simply by getting rid of right wing radio and Fox News - You don't need a President for that. Plain and simple, Republicans are about war and corporate imperialism. That is their mantra, their raison d'etre, their bread and butter. They will eat Barack alive if he's not ready for them. Republicans will not change who they are simply because Barack is now a player. They will figure out how to best derail him, then set about doing it.
Senator Obama needs to start preparing to lead us through tough times. I need a concrete plan from him. No more oratory.
These are just some of my thoughts. In sum, I am very happy with our Democratic Nominees and will proudly support and campaign for them.
Thank you for the forum, John
Vincent E. Miller
If you were elected President what would you do??
I would cut the food portion sizes...We are getting too fat!! If we would spend less time over eating we would have enough food left over to feed every single person without!
What would you do??
Article From Time.com,
Obama: The Frontrunner
For anyone who thinks this race might be a tie, and yes, David Axelrod, that includes you, there’s a lot of evidence today that Obama is now the frontrunner. He leads in number of states won, he leads by his own campaign’s tally in pledged delegates, he is so far ahead in the money race that his opponent is borrowing money and he clearly has the momentum coming out of Super Tuesday. How is he NOT the frontrunner??
Many of my colleagues will say: Never underestimate the Clintons. But looking at the caucus-heavy schedule through February they are going to have a tough slog for a positive news cycle for three looong weeks before they get to the more calendar-friendly March. If fundraising in January was hard when she was the New Hampshire "comeback kid" and had victories in Nevada, Florida and Michigan, finding money now is going to be twice the challenge.
Obama was asked at a press conference in Chicago this morning if it isn’t a little disingenuous to still be clinging to the “underdog” title. “I’m never disingenuous,” Obama said. “Here’s’ a fair way to put it: I think we are less of an underdog than we were two weeks ago. Now we’re slight underdogs.”
“If I were writing this story,” he said over the open laughs of reporters in the room. “If I were writing this story, what I would say would be: Senator Obama came in as a challenger two weeks ago who I think that nobody thought would come out of February 5th standing…. I think Senator Clinton remains the favorite because of the enormous familiarity that people have with her and the institutional support that she carries… I think we’re turning out to be a scrappy little team.”
Perhaps we’ve let him write the story a little too much – for a campaign so opposed to spin (one of Obama’s favorite stump lines, as said two days ago in Hartford, Connecticut: “I was convinced that the American people didn’t want spin, didn’t want PR, they wanted straight talk”), they have done a masterful job in managing news cycle expectations. We should not let him get away with calling himself the underdog and escape the glare of the frontrunner’s seat – a glare Hillary Clinton has endured for most of the campaign.
et me start by first stating ....I am very very PROUD of my nephew John-John. It just goes to show that his parents exposed him to all different facets of life.
Well, I was a non-believer up until 6 weeks ago. Actually, it's better put that I was not paying attention. I knew what President Clinton did for this country 15 years ago and I just assumed that Hillary would do the same. Further more, as first Lady, she had a front row seat to what the presidency of the U.S. was like. Another plus for her, she would have a very good adviser and counsellor 24/7.
Well about 6 weeks ago, I was shuffling through the channels and I sa Barack about the issues, the war, the economy, change etc etc. I began to get goose bumps listening to him, Listening to a politician whose every word I truly believed he meant, not just words that I wanted to hear, but I was relating to evry issue he discussed. I was truly impressed. I still had doubts that he would be raedy to run the country. I didn't want to vote for him just to vote for him and in effect throw my vote away. I was concerned that little was known of him and that the Republicans would tear him apart. The program finished and I sat and questioned myself. Why was I afraid for him and up to now had did little to know what he was about. It's then I started to read more, pay more attention, and YEs, YES,I am now a BELIEVER. This country do need a change and although I still think highly of Hillary, I am convinced that Barack will not only be able to handle the job, but he has the integrity, honesty and wisdom to be one of the best presidents we have seen in our lifetime. One more note, a few days ago, I listened to Michelle speak in delaware and I know he will have one of the BEST Adviser and Counsellor available to him 24/7. Yes, she I was even more impressed by her.
That said, People, its an opportunity that only comes in a lifetime to have an Honest politician that we can rally around.
LET's get the word out Barack for Change, Barack for Hope, Barack for a better way of life.
BARRACK for Presidemnt of these here United States.
Uncle Herbie
Good evening everyone, I'm in Texas on business and I'm so impressed that we are still talking passionately. This is great. But l, I have some items to address.
1) Vincent- Great Post. Spoken so well. But, I will disagree. I would like to cross-examine the witness. Barack will surprise you. Your absolutely right the plan must be laid down. He's not a celebrity, he's the future. I much rather the future, not the past.
2) Katrina, if I was President, I would increase the salaries for all teachers and prepare ALL our kids
3) Uncle Herbie, what a response !!
OBAMA SWEEPS STATES
“Today, the voters from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast to the heart of America stood up to say yes, we can. We won in Louisiana, we won in Nebraska, we won in Washington state, we won North, we won South, we won in between, and I believe that we can win Virginia on Tuesday if you’re ready to stand for change.”
-Barack Obama last night @ Democratic Dinner in Virginia
Obama landslides could break deadlock
(article from Politico.com)
Barack Obama’s landslide victories in three mid-sized states Saturday suggest that he has the opportunity build a significant lead over Hillary Rodham Clinton among the locked-in “pledged” delegates before the candidates face off in the big battlegrounds of Ohio and Texas on March 4.
The results in Washington and Nebraska vindicated Obama’s strategy of preparing expensive efforts to organize votes after the Feb. 5 contests that many expected – wrongly — effectively to decide the race. Clinton’s campaign, meanwhile, downplayed its own efforts in the states, though she did air television ads in both Washington and Nebraska.
Obama also won in Louisiana, buoyed by taking nearly 90% of the support of black voters, according to exit polls. And he won overwhelmingly in the U.S. Virgin Islands, winning all three of the territory’s pledged delegates.
In squeezing every delegate out of the small and mid-sized states between now and March 4, and every dollar out of his supporters, Obama is hoping to build a head of steam this month that will make him unstoppable and will lure free-floating superdelegates to his camp.
Clinton, meanwhile, aims to keep the debate national in scope and sharply competitive in the national media, if not on the ground in the primary states.
Though turnout in the Washington and Nebraska caucuses overwhelmed the state parties, the raw numbers of voters were relatively small: About 26,000 people, in total, participated the Nebraska caucus, for instance.
But in what was a test of enthusiasm and organization, Obama showed an ability not just to win but to rack up the landslide margins necessary to build a delegate lead. He seemed set to gain on Clinton by a margin of well over 40 delegates Saturday night, according to preliminary estimates. (A Democratic candidate needs 2,025 delegates to claim the nomination.)
“Today, voters from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast to the heart of America stood up to say that it is time to turn the page,” Obama told the Virginia Democratic Party’s Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Richmond, according to his prepared remarks. He told the gathering that he represents “real change,” and touted his appeal to independent voters.
Clinton, meanwhile, didn’t congratulate Obama in her speech to the Richmond gathering earlier in the evening. Instead, she continued to draw sharp contrasts with her rival, and associated him with the likely Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.
“I am the only candidate left in this race, Democrat or Republican, with a healthcare plan to cover every single man, woman and child,” she said.
Her campaign also sought to introduce a measure of good news by releasing word, as polls closed in Louisiana, that she had raised $10 million from more than 100,000 donors this month.
Obama’s campaign shot back that more than 350,000 donors have given him money this year.
Though high turnout and a surge of new voters have been regular features of this primary cycle, they still seemed to strain untested primary and caucus systems in state unused to being the focus of national attention.
In Louisiana, the Obama campaign complained of “irregularities” after, it said, Democrats claiming their party registration had been switched were not permitted to cast provisional ballots.
However, it was unclear whether Obama's supporters had actually registered as Democrats and were turned away improperly, or were in fact independents and unable to vote in the primary.
And in Washington, caucusgoers cited “pandemonium” and “chaos” in flooded caucus sites, prompting the editor of The Stranger, the alternative weekly newspaper in Seattle, to compare the scene to a horror movie.
“The gym at Stevens Elementary right now resembles the Brooklyn Bridge scene in Cloverfield—only without the promise of giant, derivative monster showing up to put Capitol Hill caucus-goers out of our misery,” wrote the editor, Dan Savage, on the newspaper’s blog [LINK: http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/02/the_cloverfield_caucus] Saturday.
“And instead of bloodied hipsters asking each other ‘What the hell is that?’ over and over again, it’s roughly 1500 people wearing tasteful scarfs asking each other, ‘Where the hell is the line for my precinct table?’”
The two candidates, meanwhile, spent parts of Saturday in Maine, preparing for a hard-fought caucus. Observers there had one eye to the weather, which threatens snow – offering an edge to the candidate with the most devoted supporters.
Someone sent me this via E-mail
I FOUND THIS INTERESTING AND THOUGHT I SHOULD SHARE IT WITH Everyone....
I am practically seething with all of the black people, especially so.
called "intelligent" , "educated", black people giving a million tired
excuses of why they won't vote for Barack Obama and will vote for a
Hillary Clinton:
1. He's not ready/He's not experienced.
Man please. You have the top 3 Democratic candidates with 1 Senate
term under their belt. Hillary as the First Lady as experienced? Not
one executive decision is made being as the first lady. That's like
Stedman recommending a book, endorsing a candidate, or having his own
show...SO WHAT.
2. White America is not ready for a Black president.
Whaaa? Was White America ready for slavery to end? Giving us the right
to vote? Desegregation of our society? When did black people ever let
white people dictate when and where we were getting our just due, our
break? We've always stepped up and demanded what we wanted, or we were
either hitting the streets and tearin' up some stuff, escapin',
marching, or picketing. White America is ready for a Black President
because Barack Obama is the right man for President, PERIOD. Besides,
that never stopped anyone from voting for Jesse Jackson, a man with NO
political experience AT ALL from almost snatching the Democratic
nomination in 1984, and coming darn close again in 1988 20 YEARS AGO.
3. Barak is half black and half white, so he's not really black anyway.
I should backsmack anyone who has ever thought that. Ever heard of the
one drop rule? It has not only been a social standard for WHO is
black, but it also upheld the constitution in keeping us from suing a
white person over personal property. No black person ever refers to
another black person as "biracial". You black. You might have another
heritage in your lineage, but this country as well as any other sees
you as black, PERIOD. Lame excuse people.
4. I don't know what issues Barack stands for.
When the heck has that ever prevented black folk from voting for a
black candidate, really? I guess now, but the main people saying that
couldn't tell you anything about Hillary's or John Edwards platform
either. Please stop fronting.
5. All he did was give that one speech.
How many great people have defined their lives, the scope of human
history, and changed the world in a speech? Moses, Jesus, Paul, Martin
Luther, Frederick Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Delano Roosevelt,
Winston Churchill, Martin Luther King, Jr., John F. Kennedy, Malcolm
X, Ronald Reagan, Nelson Mandela, Jesse Jackson, and Jim Valvano all
have changed the course of history of the world and the hearts of
billions of men and women in societies since the beginning of time
with a speech. That is the purpose of a rally. A person speaks, and
it prepares all to act in relation to the spirit of what is spoken.
That is why we go to church, not to just hear our pastor blather, but
to refresh God in our hearts and spurn us to take up God's will in our
lives. So save all that ying yang about that speech.
6. If all of those white people are supporting him, he must be in
their back pocket.
Save the conspiracy theory home skillet. He's liked because he comes
at a time where a person that looks exactly like them lied to their
face (two in a row, if you include Bill Clinton with Monica and of
course Bush with Iraq), and flat out said what no politician would
admit: We have two Americas, blue and red, black and white. It was not
publicly said, and on top of that proposed that we ACTUALLY DO
something about it, not find more ways to be divided and not come
together despite our differences. Noble concept, and one to be
championed. That's JFK, FDR, and Abe Lincoln material. So they were
feeling it, just like I was and you should too. His legislative work
has been indicative of this as well, including his Fuel Standard work
with President Bush. Check the resume, it shines.
THE REAL REASON BLACK PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO VOTE FOR OBAMA IS THAT THEY
ARE AFRAID THAT HE'LL WIN, AND:
1.WE'LL HAVE NO MORE EXCUSES LEFT.
We won't be able to say, "America is racist", "I cannot get a break
because I'm black", and all other random excuses many blacks make for
not achieving anything in their lives.
2. IF SOCIETY IS LEFT UNCHANGED AFTER HIS PRESIDENCY WE'LL LOSE HOPE.
If a black man becomes President, I honestly believe many black people
feel that all of the world's problems should come to an end. No more
crack selling, no more black on black crime, no more baby mama drama
and dead beat daddies, no more people on welfare and on the chow line,
no more wineoes, no more police brutality, no more DWB, no more
predatory loans, no more ghettos, no more racism period, no more
Middle East unrest, just everybody singing cumbaya. To some degree, I
think alot of white people, especially liberal, feel that way too,
that's why they are all up on him like that. THAT'S RIDICULOUS. If it
happened, he'd be one of the greatest people that ever lived, but
that's way too much pressure to put on one man. DANG! I feel that
people are really not ready for the world to get better anyway. It's
like that father you never knew but won't make a relationship with
because you don't want to be let down. It's unfair and let that go.
Barak will make a great President, but he won't solve all of the
world's problems, nor can he solve all of black peoples' problems
either.
3. SO CALLED "EDUCATED" BLACK PEOPLE WON'T BE SO SPECIAL ANYMORE
BECAUSE THE PLAYING FIELD WILL BE LEVELED.
Absolutely hate more than anything else. The above 2 reasons were
largely a poor disadvantaged black person's inner fear about Barack.
Many of number 2 and all of this one is specifically tailored to you
bourgeois folks that actually like being the only black person (or one
of a very few) in your medical school, your law school, your master's
program, your Ph.D. program, your high fallutin' Fortune 500 Company,
your faculty at your prestigious institution. You feel deep inside
being a talented 10th will become a talented population. As much as
you detest and look down at your disadvantaged brothers and sisters,
and claim they need to "get a job", "get an education", "pull
themselves up from their own bootstraps", and "stop being so
ignorant", you like them where they are. You are the one that has that
shady feeling in your belly when a new black person is hired because
you don't want them to screw it up for you. Yeah you...I'm talkin'
about you. You know who you are. You think deep inside, Keishas,
Darnells, Shequans are going to get theirs now that Barak is in
office, and you won't be so special anymore. See you like racism. You
probably are like Clarence Thomas, the man that benefitted from
Affirmative Action but now you got yours, nobody else can get in too,
so you vote against Affirmative Action. Yeah, claim you got your
opportunity on merit. No, you got it on the backs of our ancestors
that had to fight for you to get that job. Now you don't want a world
where everyone has an equal opportunity. Well actually neither do poor
blacks either, see 1.
3. IF HE MESSES IT UP, WE'RE ALL SCREWED.
Back in the day blacks with degrees could do nothing but shine shoes
outside the company. Now we're in them, making decisions, even CEOs
like my man Stanley O'Neal, the first black American to take the helm
of a major Wall Street firm. That brother completely mismanaged the
company, like many others who mismanaged banks and cause losing equity
because of security back subprime loans. Now, those that are in the
know are afraid that a black man cannot ever get that opportunity to
be THE MAN at a major institution again. Not only that, if Barack
messes it up, there will be a backlash on all of black America. "You
guys had your chance to run the free world, and you blew it". Sorry
Charlie, Barak is one man. You can't use the logic for yourself as far
as getting ahead, but lose it for this man. George Bush completely
botched America's standing in the world, but I don't see anyone afraid
to elect another white man. So come off of it.
4. BLACK WOMEN FEEL SORRY FOR HILLARY BEING CHEATED ON BY THE REAL
FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT.
This is so dumb, I cannot address with words, but it's the truth for
alot of black people, who felt Bill was the first Black President, and
sistas especially would feel like they were vindicating a woman that
was done wrong by anotha brotha.
5. BLACKS LIKE TO BE DIFFERENT FROM WHITES AND BARAK WILL BREAK DOWN
BARRIERS WE LIKE HAVING UP.
Keep it real people. You hate it when anything we do gets imitated.
It is instantly uncool. Most blacks love that we have our own thing,
our own culture. Having Barack win means for a lot of people America
will have more of a shared consciousness. We'll actually have to come
together and squash some beef to make this country cooperative. I
don't completely believe this concept, but I'm down for it. Once
again, Black people really do like racism. For all of you doubters
out there this is what you really need to ask yourselves: Our deepest
fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? We were
born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. And as we
let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission
to do the same . That's all the brotha is trying to do. So vote for
him, drop the excuses, and support the first viable Black Candidate.
Our ancestors demand that we do so.
He’s One of Us Now
(Article from Newsweek.com)
"Obama embodies my generation's attitudes and aspirations, for better and for worse."
Ah, the folly of youth. On Sept. 24, 2007, I pitched a story to my boss at NEWSWEEK about "Barack Obama and young voters—specifically, whether they can actually help him win the nomination or whether they'll just stay home, you know, watching MTV and eating Doritos as they have in the past." With Obama trailing Hillary Clinton by 10 points in Iowa, his campaign manager, David Plouffe, had just told reporters that youngsters were "Barack's core support—in effect, his hidden vote." I'm 25; my editor is 31. "I like this a lot," he replied. "Proceed, my friend."
A week later, after interviewing campaign staffers and independent observers, I sent him a profile of Obama's nimble Iowa youth program. Haunted by the specter of Howard Dean, whose hordes of orange-hatted out-of-state volunteers failed to fulfill the Vermonter's youthful potential in 2004, Team Obama had already hired four times as many staffers and invested five times as much money in the state, opening an unprecedented 31 offices and launching a novel "BarackStars" program to target the 40,000 untapped 17-year-olds set to turn 18 before Election Day. Rob Sand, a 25-year-old former Deaniac, admitted that he'd skipped the 2004 caucuses. But this time was different. "I'm more excited about Obama than I was about Dean," he said. "Dean was polarizing. Obama brings people together." Although counting on kids to carry the caucuses was "a tall order," I wrote, "the potential, at least, is there."
My boss liked the story—but his boss, a 43-year-old former Washington bureau chief, was skeptical. He'd heard the spiel before. Gene McCarthy. Gary Hart. Bill Bradley. Dean. "If young voters show up and Obama wins Iowa," he said, smiling as he slumped on an office sofa, "it's a big steak dinner for you guys. And I'm buying." My editor nixed "The Audacity of Youth" that night.
Exactly three months later, I arrived at the apartment of Paul Tewes, Obama's Iowa state director, as the icy streets of downtown Des Moines filled with young Obamaniacs hugging and cheering, "We did it!" Upstairs, scruffy postcollegiate staffers squeezed between couches and credenzas to celebrate the senator's surprise victory. Cans of Bud Light covered every surface. Youth turnout was up 135 percent from 2004, and the under-25 set alone gave Obama 17,000 votes, a 26-year-old speechwriter told me. Obama's margin of victory? Twenty thousand. "We did it" was right.
Rob Sand e-mailed the next morning. "This," he wrote, "is our next president."
Born in the 1980s, Sand and the supporters chugging Bud that night are what generational theorists call "millennials." (Full disclosure: I'm one, too. Further disclosure: I'm also a registered independent.) Now, a month after Iowa, my boss's boss is well aware that millions of my peers have fallen under the spell of the freshman senator from Illinois. At this point, the statistics seem almost stale: with youth turnout doubling, tripling and even quadrupling in the 30 contests to date, Obama won the 18-to-29 demographic by 4-1 in Iowa, 3-1 in New Hampshire, 3-1 in South Carolina and 2-1 in Nevada, and he trounced Clinton, often by as much as 50 percent among young voters, in 10 of the 13 Super Tuesday states with available data. (On Saturday, Obama swept the primaries and caucuses in Washington, Nebraska, Louisiana and the Virgin Islands.)
But while the figures make for catchy headlines, they don't tell the whole story. What's clear to me after three months of chasing the candidates from coast to coast for my Newsweek.com blog, Stumper, is that it's not so much the strength of Obama's youth support that's significant—it's how fully and seamlessly he embodies the attitudes, aspirations and shortcomings of the generation that's rallied around him. After all, not every Obamaniac is under 30 (sources say that some are even—gasp!—middle-aged). And Clinton tends to best her hipper rival among young voters in states like California and Massachusetts whose populations are too large and diverse for Obama to overwhelm with ground troops and captivating speeches (the Hispanic vote, which favors Clinton, may also contribute). In truth, to call the Democratic primary contest a battle between young and old would be reductive. Instead, Democrats are struggling to choose between different generational views of governance. On one side is Clinton, the consummate baby boomer. On the other is Obama—not a late boomer, as his birth date would suggest, but the first millennial to run for president. For better and for worse.
Summing up an entire generation with a few broad brush strokes is always hazardous, especially in politics. But as a millennial, some of the stereotypes ring true. According to Morley Winograd and Michael D. Hais, authors of "Millennial Makeover: MySpace, YouTube, and the Future of American Politics," millennials "aren't confrontational or combative, the way Boomers (whose generational mantra was 'Don't trust anyone over 30') have been." Instead, millennials belong to what social scientist William Strauss calls a "civic generation," drawn to issues of "community, politics and deeds, whereas the boomers focused on issues of self, culture and morals." Reacting against the excesses of our parents—especially their efforts to advance moral causes through partisan politics—we prefer to address problems by reforming institutions from within. We're team players, say Winograd and Hais, conditioned through constant social interaction (often online) to "find consensus, 'win-win' solutions to any problem." We distrust traditional channels of information and prefer to learn from peers (again, often online). We are diverse. After George W. Bush, we believe, as Obama youth-vote director Hans Riemer puts it, "that it matters who's running the government—and that government is a powerful way to make this country a better place." And we're more optimistic than boomers about the possibility of change. According to a January survey by Frank N. Magid Associates, a plurality of boomers (43 percent) believe that the 2008 election will leave the United States unchanged or worse for wear. Only 32 percent of millennials agree—and a full 40 percent say that it will make America stronger.
Obama's message first struck me as essentially millennial three days after the Iowa victory party, on an unseasonably balmy Sunday in Manchester, N.H. When I arrived at 9 a.m. for a rally at the historic Palace Theatre, I found a line of anxious supporters stretching around the block. Hundreds never got seats. At the time, Obama led by at least 10 points in the New Hampshire polls, and when he swept onstage, the combination of rapturous applause and U2's "City of Blinding Lights" made the moment seem cinematically inspiring. It appeared obvious—at least to someone covering his first presidential election—that the Illinois senator was destined to repeat his Iowa rout. First, Obama thanked Kimberley, the young volunteer (and daughter of a Congolese immigrant) who introduced him. "Hope is an idea, it's a feeling, a belief, a revolution, a role, a possibility," she'd said. Then he gave a shout-out to regional field director Jack Shapiro, one of "the young people who are pouring their hearts and souls into this campaign." Finally, Obama gave a speech brimming with pure millennial uplift. "It's time for us to put aside the partisan food-fighting," he said. "If you know what you stand for, if you know what you believe in, if you know who you're fighting for, then you can afford to reach out to those who don't agree with you on everything. We can create the kind of working majority that we haven't seen in this country for a long, long time. If I've got the American people behind me, I fear no man. Nobody can stop us. We can do everything that we want to get done."
It was all there. The optimism. The diversity. The sense of community. The faith in government. The repudiation of partisanship and the call for consensus. Obama had delivered a plea for practicality, not a blazing boomer war cry. But the crowd, now on its feet, was thrilled nonetheless. "I wouldn't vote for Hillary," Charles Silva, 72, told me afterward (Obama's millennialism is not just for millennials). "Correctly or incorrectly, she has a lot of baggage with her. I think she represents looking back. And Obama represents looking forward." Even I was wobbly. "It's going to sound horribly uncynical," I wrote on Stumper a few minutes later, "but there's really no other way to say this: Obama's on fire."
That evening, I drove 45 minutes to the coastal town of Hampton for a Hillary event. The effect was hardly as electric. Ninety minutes after the scheduled start of her speech, Clinton had not yet arrived—and the audience in the Winnacunnet High School cafeteria was getting antsy. The preshow soundtrack had cycled through Sheryl Crow's "A Change Would Do You Good" (hint, hint) at least four times, and the staffer hurling HILLARY T shirts and quiz questions at the increasingly listless blue-collar crowd wasn't exactly connecting. By the time Clinton finally appeared, the cafeteria had partially emptied out. Unfazed, she delivered a punchy, pointed, 15-minute opening statement—"There's a difference between talk and action, rhetoric and reality"—that framed Obama as an ordinary politician with an extraordinary teleprompter. "She's fighting to stay in the game," I scribbled in my notebook. Obama is fond of saying that Clinton embodies the character and conflict of the baby boomers. "The battles between [Newt] Gingrich and [Bill] Clinton were battles that took place in dorm rooms ... 30 years ago," he said in December. "We're re-litigating sex, drugs, rock and roll, Vietnam." The premise of Hillary Clinton's presidency is that the combat will continue, and its promise is that only she knows Washington well enough to win. As adviser Sidney Blumenthal recently told The New Yorker, "it's not a question of transcending partisanship. It's a question of fulfilling it."
As I sat in the Winnacunnet cafeteria, I couldn't help but hear in Clinton's remarks an echo of that combative "us versus them" mind-set—instinctive, almost, after 20 years spent defending her most precious political values from assault by her peers. "You've got to have an understanding of how you bring about change that is rooted in reality," she said, listing the precise numbers of New Hampshire children her work had helped insure and vaccinate. "Wishing doesn't make it so." When Clinton, normally inaccessible, opened the floor for questions—34 in all, or two hours' worth—the reporters in the press pen cracked jokes about her desperation. My Stumper dispatch was no kinder. "If you ignored the Secret Service agents, the hordes of reporters and the fact that the candidate was wearing a dark pantsuit and a bright pink blouse, last night's Democratic campaign stop looked a lot like a Joe Biden event," I wrote. "The crowd was not young. The room was not full. And the guest of honor, Hillary Clinton, spoke for two straight hours." Joe Biden? Ouch.
Two days later, Clinton won the New Hampshire primary. Humiliated, the pundits and prognosticators who expected an Obama victory went into paroxysms of guilt. We trusted the polls! they said. It was the echo chamber! But no one mentioned generational bias. Most of the reporters in the Winnacunnet press pen were embeds or bloggers—the eyes and ears of their newsrooms. Almost all were my age. And for many, Iowa was their first big election. Seduced by the familiarity—the "rightness"—of Obama's message, it was hard, as millennials ourselves, not to assume that it appealed equally to everyone. But the truth is, we're far more coddled and comfortable than previous generations. Weaned on self-esteem and offered unlimited choice (technology again), we grew up with a sense of entitlement—specifically, for control. And in New Hampshire, it seems, some Democrats heard something like entitlement in Obama's gauzy pledge to "change Washington." Untroubled by debt, or joblessness, or unsupportable children, Obama's millennial fan base (and the older, typically wealthy whites who vote with them) can afford the luxury of privileging process over policy. Clinton, on the other hand, ditches the packaging and goes straight to the product—the plans she'll fight Republicans to pass. It may not have the same "cool factor" as Obama's brand, but to Clinton's base of women, Latinos and downscale Dems, it's enough to seal the deal.
Now that the race is deadlocked, I have no idea which generation of leadership Democrats will choose: the boomer Clinton, who promises to play by the old rules and win, or the millennial Obama, who promises to change the rules entirely. But the next time I'm tempted to write that Obama's "on fire," I'll remember Joanne Barton, a New Hampshirite I met at Exeter's Loaf & Ladle café that Sunday between the Obama and Clinton events. Decades ago, Barton suffered a car crash while pregnant; her baby was born with disabilities, and after more than a dozen operations, she still walks with a cane. Clinton had always been a hero. "When I was in that hospital bed, I saw her on TV with her chin up, leading Chelsea by the hand," she told me. "That was after Monica, and it's always inspired me to keep my chin up, too." Barton was still deciding between the candidates when we met, but two days later she went with Clinton. "I'm not a rah-rah person," she said. "And Obama's relying too much on rah-rah. He's not addressing our concerns."
Whether true or not, there are plenty of Democrats who agree. So I'm going to hold off on that steak dinner for now.
Obama sweeps Clinton in Maryland, Va., D.C. ‘Tonight we’re on our way,’ senator says as he extends lead in delegates
Sen. Barack Obama was projected to sweep Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in Tuesday's primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, NBC News said, giving him an unbroken string of victories since Super Tuesday.
On the Republican side, Sen. John McCain defeated former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in all three contests.
The three wins — which came by substantial margins — helped Obama build on the delegate lead that he has gained in the past week in NBC News' count.
“Tonight we’re on our way,” Obama told cheering supporters Tuesday night in Madison, Wis. “We now have won east and west and north and south and across the heartland of this country we love.”
Clinton was said to be depending on victories in the big states of Ohio and Texas next month in her struggle to keep up in a race she once commanded.
She campaigned in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday night, telling supporters: "I'm tested, I'm ready — let's make it happen."
Clinton didn't mention Tuesday's results, but there were lingering signs of the disquiet in her campaign.
Clinton's campaign manager resigned over the weekend, and it was learned Tuesday that deputy campaign manager Mike Henry resigned Monday. A source told NBC that Henry was leaving to allow new campaign manager Maggie Williams to organize her own team.
Obama makes some inroads
With his victories Tuesday, Obama showed signs of eating into Clinton's voter base. He had nearly two-thirds of the vote in Virginia, about 60 percent in early returns in Maryland and 75 percent in the District of Columbia.
Interviews with voters leaving the polls showed Obama split the white vote with Clinton in Virginia, though she won it by 10 percentage points in Maryland. She won a majority of white women in both states, though by less than she is accustomed to. He won among white men in Virginia, and they split that vote in Maryland.
In addition to his usual strong showing among young voters, Obama was also running about even among those over 65, a group Clinton usually dominates.
"This is the new American majority. This is what change looks like when it happens from the bottom up," Obama said at the campaign rally in Wisconsin, which holds its primary next Tuesday.
Obama, who would be the first black president, also won the votes of nine in 10 black voters in Virginia, where they were about a third of the electorate, and his won almost as many in Maryland.
And Obama was winning 66 percent to 33 percent among independents, who made up a fifth of the Democratic electorate in Virginia. He did even better — 70 percent to 26 percent — among Republicans, who made up 8 percent of the Democratic vote. Virginia held the two parties' primaries on the same day for the first time and voters can cross party lines in primaries there.
Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine said in an interview on MSNBC that the makeup of the Democratic electorate bore out his belief that Obama could strongly attract independent voters in November in Virginia, which has been solidly Republican in previous presidential elections.
“The results tonight suggest that we’re going to be very razor-thin competitive in November,” said Kaine, who has endorsed Obama.
Obama takes on new aura of momentum
(Article from Politico.com)
Who’s inevitable now?
With three landslide victories in Tuesday’s “Chesapeake Primary” in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and a widening lead by any measure of delegates, Senator Barack Obama’s supporters have begun to suggest a case that, just a few months ago, was coming from Hillary Rodham Clinton: He’s a lock.
In a conference call with reporters before polls closed Tuesday, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe cited “the cold, hard reality of the math.”
"I don't think it's so much about momentum as the reality of the math," he said, citing the campaign’s success in building a small but unmistakable lead among pledged delegates. “If we continue to do that, mathematical reality sets in and it becomes harder and harder to overcome."
Plouffe’s aim was to begin the process of massing uncommitted Democratic leaders behind a front-running Obama, the same end to which Clinton and her aides wielded her high poll numbers last year.
The stress on Obama’s delegate lead was also the opening of an effort to muscle Clinton – now trailing by almost any count of delegates – from the race.
But on the numbers, Plouffe has a point. An analysis of the delegate count by Politico indicates that Obama’s wide margins in contests over the last week mean that Clinton will be forced to answer with not just victories, but landslides of her own, in the big states on which she is staking her hopes – Ohio and Texas, which vote March 4.
“We’re going to sweep across Texas in the next three weeks, bringing our message about what we need in America: The kind of president that will be required on day one to be commander in chief, to turn the economy around,” Clinton told a crowd of thousands in El Paso Thursday night. “I’m tested. I’m ready. Let’s make this happen."
This exhortation came hours after her campaign announced the departure of her deputy campaign manager, Mike Henry, in the latest reflection of staff turmoil.
Clinton’s challenge is to keep the count of pledged delegates close, while protecting her lead among the party officials known as “superdelegates,” who can vote independently at the Democratic National convention – but who may be reluctant to defy the popular vote.
The Obama campaign now argues that the superdelegates should follow the majority of the pledged delegates.
Clinton, meanwhile, has sought to cast doubts on the legitimacy of the process by which pledged delegates are chosen, arguing that caucuses aren’t true reflections of the will of the people, and that the exclusion of Florida and Michigan voters because of a dispute over the primary calendar taints the official tallies.
But Obama’s lead in pledged delegates widened Tuesday night to more than 100, even by conservative estimates, and there’s no indication that it will narrow before March.
There are 573 delegates up for grabs between March 4 and April 22. For Clinton to even things up, she needs to get 345 of those 573 delegates, or 60 percent – the sort of margin she won in her home state of New York.
Obama’s dramatic victories Tuesday also put him ahead in the count of pledged delegates even if Florida, whose delegates have not been recognized by the Democratic National Committee, was permitted to seat a delegation.
And his victories put him ahead even in counts that include superdelegates.
“This is the new American majority. This is what change looks like,” Obama said in a speech to an audience of thousands in Madison, Wisconsin Tuesday night.
Obama’s wins were his sixth, seventh, and eighth in a row, and even as Clinton looks forward to March 4, his campaign is looking with relish on Wisconsin and his home state of Hawaii, which vote a week from today.
His widening coalition is becoming part of his message: He won a majority of Latino votes – which had been Clinton’s bulwark elsewhere – in Virginia and Maryland.
He won a majority of white men in both states, and won the support of groups across the economic spectrum, while drawing stunning majorities of support from African-American voters – as high as 90% of their support in Virginia, according to exit polls.
The wide margins – he won with 64% of the vote in Virginia, and appeared headed for victory on a similar scale in Maryland– seemed to answer the Clinton campaign’s arguments that he has not won primaries in large states.
And Obama moved clearly into one traditional frontrunner’s role Tuesday night, trading blows with the likely Republican nominee, Senator John McCain, in their respective victory speeches.
“John McCain is an American hero. We honor his service to our nation. But his priorities don’t address the real problems of the American people, because they are bound to the failed policies of the past,” Obama said in Wisconsin.
“Senator McCain said the other day that we might be mired for a hundred years in Iraq, which is reason enough to not give him four years in the White House.”
McCain, for his part, jabbed at Obama’s lofty rhetoric of hope in his own remarks in Virginia.
“Hope, my friends, is a powerful thing. I can attest to that better than many, for I have seen men's hopes tested in hard and cruel ways that few will ever experience,” he said, continuing, however, that “to encourage a country with only rhetoric rather than sound and proven ideas that trust in the strength and courage of free people is not a promise of hope. It is a platitude.”
And McCain concluded by stealing Obama’s signature line.
“My friends, I promise you, I am fired up and ready to go,” he said
SEIU set to endorse Obama
(Article from Politico.com)
Two labor sources tell Politico that the giant Service Employees International Union, which has been neutral through the primary, is on the verge of throwing its support to Sen. Barack Obama.
"It's done," said one person close to the union.
SEIU spokeswoman Stephanie Mueller confirmed that union leaders are set to discuss a potential endorsement today.
"Our board is going to be talking this evening," she said. "This will be a topic of their conversation."
An endorsement will be particularly important in beefing up his organization in Texas, where the union has a major presence among Latinos. (The Wisconsin SEIU has already endorsed Obama, and his Chicago allies are active there.)
Many SEIU leaders had backed Edwards before he dropped out, but giant New York- and Chicago-based locals blocked an endorsement. Now, with Chicago pushing hard for Obama and joined by much of the rest of the union's national organization, insiders said a tipping point appears to have been reached. A formal endorsement would come after tonight's call, when local organizations submit their written votes by email.
Jerry Morrison, a spokesman for the SEIU Illinois State Council, said he expected the union to make an announcement imminently, though he would not confirm an Obama endorsement.
"There’ll be some information tomorrow morning at the latest," he said.
War on Two Fronts
(article from Newsweek.com)
In Texas, Barack Obama rides the wave of 10 straight victories and prepares for a two-pronged attack on Hillary Clinton.
This is what momentum looks like. The line outside Reunion Arena in Dallas started forming at 4 a.m. on Wednesday, the day after Obama's latest blowout victories in Wisconsin and Hawaii. Among the thousands of supporters stretching through the concrete walkways around the arena: a cluster of young Muslim women wearing headscarves just a few paces away from some troops in desert camouflage.
By the time the rally began at noon, the raucous crowd of around 18,000 inside was in a party mood. As Sam and Dave's signature song played over the sound system, a large group of supporters changed the lyrics to "Hold On, Obama's Coming." One wore a T-shirt saying "I'm Barack Obama." Another one showed three pictures: JFK, MLK and Barack Obama.
Obama's warm-up acts were just as exuberant. Dallas mayor Ron Kirk told the crowd that the candidate was suffering from the flu and recounted a conversation about Obama's similarly huge rally in Houston the night before. How, Kirk wondered, did Obama deliver such a spirited speech when he was so sick? "It was the crowd. They lifted me," Obama told Kirk. "Their enthusiasm." At which point 18,000 Dallas fans started chanting O-ba-ma.
Behind the scenes Obama's aides remain as cautious as they have been since New Hampshire's surprise defeat. They may have a national lead of 14 points over Hillary Clinton, according to the latest Reuters/Zogby poll. (That same poll gives Obama a seven-point lead over John McCain, while Clinton trails the presumptive GOP nominee by 12 points.) And they may have extended a lead among pledged delegates that amounts to more than 10 percent above Clinton's tally—a lead that Obama's aides believe is almost unbeatable in the primary and caucus contests that remain.
But they are still prepared for a tough and protracted struggle with the Clinton campaign. First there are two high-profile debates, starting in Texas on Thursday, which could potentially trip up their candidate. Obama is spending longer prepping for Thursday's debate than any other recent matchup. Obama's aides are also concerned by reports of heavy spending by a 527 group on behalf of Clinton in Ohio and Texas.
Beyond the next states, the Obama strategy looks to the contest for the superdelegate votes that will ultimately clinch the Democratic nomination. On that battlefield the Obama camp is encouraged by its string of 10 straight wins and the bump in the polls that has followed. "I think it's becoming increasingly clear that there's a big difference between what Senator Obama is able to do in a general election and what Hillary Clinton will do," campaign manager David Plouffe told reporters on Wednesday. "Whether it's pledged delegates or some evaluation of who would be the stronger general election candidate, we win convincingly on both scores." Nevertheless, that strategy envisions Obama fighting a two-front battle: against Clinton in the remaining primaries and against John McCain in a general election that has already begun.
Obama, struggling with a head cold that forced him to blow his nose in midspeech, tried to deliver a punch against both rivals in Dallas. "Today Senator Clinton told us that there's a choice in this race, and you know that I couldn't agree with her more," Obama said. "But contrary to what she's been saying, it's not a choice between speeches and solutions. It's a choice between a politics that offers more of the same divisions and distractions that didn't work in South Carolina and didn't work in Wisconsin and will not work in Texas, or a new politics of common sense, of common purpose, of shared sacrifice and shared prosperity. It's a choice between having a debate with John McCain about who has the most experience in Washington or having a debate about who is most likely to change Washington. Because that's a debate we can win."
Good Evening All,
I hope all is well with everyone. It's 18 minute 10 seconds away from the "MAIN EVENT"...Obama vs. Clinton Debate in Austin, Texas. Hillary is aiming to to recapture her "luster", but I think people are starting to recognize "history" is in the making...March 4th is going to be a big day, and its getting "crazy" as we get closer...I'm so glad to see everyone becoming a little more "politically" involved (this includes me)..As we countdown to the Democratic Convention, it gets more important for everyone to start looking more at the "major" issues going into the General Election..Do your research people!!
Well, we have 13 min 40 seconds to go...
Its a Great Debate tonight...Barack is doing his thing...Maintaining focus on the issues and identifying the "SILLY POLITICS" that Clinton is trying to cause and continue with the current state of "WASHINGTON POLITICS"
Posting a New Poll on the New Page!!
Clinton vs. Obama (Their Big Acoomplishments).. I don't want what happened the other even to happen again...So, I'm giving yo "cliff notes" version..This is from the Senate:
Clinton:
Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term - 6yrs. - and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law - 20 - twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.
These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress Error! Filename not specified.www.thomas.loc.govError! Filename not specified., but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton 's bills are, more substantive. 16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11 18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.
Obama:
During the first - 8 - eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced
233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.
His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded **the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law, **The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law, **The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate, **The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law, **The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, In committee, and many more.
In all, since entering the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096.
An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to some who would prefer that this comparison not be made public. He's not just a talker.
He's a doer.
Stop the HATERATION!
Barack Obama's Accomplishments
If anyone else was watching MSNBC a few minutes ago, you would have seen that Chris Matthews ripped into a supporter of Barack Obama for not being able to answer a very simple question; he was looking for a list of accomplishments that Obama made while in Congress. I was so disappointed that he could not do so!
So here you go:
* Time in the Senate: 1,141 days
* Total bills sponsored: 129
* Total bills past committee: 9
* Total bills enacted: 1
* Total bills cosponsored: 545
* Example bills:
o Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006
o The 2007 Government Ethics Bill
o The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act
o The 2007 Government Ethics Bill
Here's more detail.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama#Senate_career
Barack Obama And The 'Creative Class': Has He Tapped Into A New Voting Bloc? (From MTV.Com)
The Illinois senator has reached 'a critical mass of creative-class-type people,' one expert says.
By Conor Bezane
Barack Obama's hot streak in recent primaries has caught many people by surprise, and has led many to wonder just how he's managed to mobilize such a large percentage of the population so quickly and so thoroughly. Two strong factors include his popularity on the Internet, and his ability to motivate not only young people, but also a voting bloc that other candidates thus far have not: the so-called "creative class."
Matt Yglesias, a 26-year-old political blogger for the Atlantic Monthly, has dubbed the Illinois senator "The Cool Candidate."
"The people who support him want to talk about supporting him [and] want to link up with people who are also into Obama — that's why you're seeing such large rallies," Yglesias told MTV News. "And some of his user-generated viral content ... Hillary Clinton supporters are older and less inclined to make a Web site about something they're into, whereas Obama has a critical mass of creative-class-type people."
Richard Florida, a professor of business economics at the University of Toronto's Rotman School of Business and author of the book, "The Rise of the Creative Class," agreed. "I think this is the first creative-class election in American history," he said. "The creative class is an online class; it's YouTube, it's MySpace, it's music." Based on his research, Florida estimates that 40 million Americans are members of this group. "They're inventors, they're entrepreneurs, they're people who work in arts and culture fields. They design, [they're] musicians, artists. Certainly you might think that more young people have these values, but all age groups are members of this class of people."
Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas, who wrote a song and made a video (with guest appearances from John Legend, Common, Scarlett Johansson, Nick Cannon and others) inspired by Obama's New Hampshire primary speech, said he feels the presence of this class too.
"When people come up to me on the street, they say, 'Yes We Can,' " he told MTV News. "It's consumed people and inspired people so much that nothing else seems to matter as far as any other songs I've written."
Indeed, many experts that MTV News spoke with in recent days believe that Obama's campaign has tapped into a new category of voters.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the creative class is a new voting bloc," Florida said. "The Republicans appeal to them on individualism, economic opportunity and keeping the finances in order. Democrats appeal to them with social liberalism, treating women with respect, treating the environment well and valuing the gay-and-lesbian community."
This collective has made its voice heard — loud if not always clear — on the Internet. In addition to Florida, they include activists like Mat Honan, Shepard Fairey, Billy Wimsatt and the people behind Barelypolitical.com.
They're also mobilizing in the real world at events like Drinking Liberally, a series of nationwide bar parties devoted to progressive political conversation.
While Obama has plenty of famous supporters, this group is mostly not made up of celebrities — but many of them are definitely Internet-famous.
Chicago native Billy Wimsatt is the executive director of the League of Young Voters (which he'd originally called The League of Pissed-Off Voters), a Brooklyn, New York-based get-out-the-vote group. He used to be a graffiti artist, plastering city walls with his tag, "Upski." Wimsatt met Obama in New York during the late '90s.
"I ran into him outside of a restaurant and he was just kind of doing errands," Wimsatt recalled. "I had seen him speak about juvenile-justice issues in Illinois. I asked him how that was going and he said, 'Good.' He gave me his phone number and said, 'Call me anytime' or whatever. I was like some nobody kid."
"Barack Obama Is Your New Bicycle" is the name of a Web site created by Mat Honan, 35, a freelance writer who lives in San Francisco. It has since spawned a flurry of "bicycle" parody sites (which have skewered John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Steve Jobs), including "I Am My New Bicycle."
While Honan shies away from the tag "hipster," he does feel a common thread running through the creative class.
"I think something about being a hipster or about people who they call hipsters is this endless quest for authenticity," he said. "That's what drove punk rock and indie rock and a lot of the hipster values."
There are ambiguous Web sites, too. Barelypolitical.com has poked fun at candidates on both sides of the aisle, and their "Obama Girl" video was a big hit. And sites like Senatorobamas.com — which generally adorns images of the senator's face with goofy mustaches and the like — feed the buzz.
"I certainly think if you are trying to sink Obama's campaign, this is not the way to do it," said Sara Smith, associate editor of Wonkette.com, referring to Senatorobamas. "It's raising awareness for the Obama brand."
Of course, using the Web as a word-of-mouth tool is nothing new. In the pre-YouTube era of 2004, Howard Dean famously harnessed the power of the Internet with his "Deaniac" fanbase (only to see it backfire with his infamous "I have a scream" speech), and on the Republican side, Ron Paul has had similar success raising money on the Internet and mobilizing young voters. All 2008 presidential candidates have worked to build their followings on the Internet — but many people say there's something more authentic about Obama's campaign.
"I used to think voting was irrelevant," Wimsatt said, adding that he didn't vote until 2004. "Last time around it was about stopping Bush. People weren't excited about Kerry. Now they're actually excited about Obama. The idea that turnout [is] doubling, tripling, quadrupling among young voters is out of this world."
And while the Obama campaign has not revealed a detailed outline of its strategy thus far, there's no question that it's working.
Veronica (my wife) and I have been paying close attention to this primary race. One thing that I truly believe is that both are capable of leading this nation, much better than our current president (little p). I would say that 90% of their policies are very similar but it's the 10% of difference where we need to make our decision on whom to support. I support Barrack Obama and I will tell you why:
#1. No one has be able to galvanize an entire nation like this since the days of the Civil Rights Movement... and in those days, our heroes (MLK, Malcolm X) galvanized African Americans to stand up for themselves with the support of MANY whites, but it was always a COLORED movement. Obama has motivated Blacks, Whites, Asians, Latino’s, etc... to the point where people are questioning whether this is a "cult". Obamaphelia, Obama'mania' are the words that you can see on FOX or CNN because it is unfathomable that one person could get so many EXCITED about anything during a time where the economy has not been this bad since the Great Depression.
#2. Although we are considered a 'superpower' Obama does not see himself as better than other nations. In last night's debate Obama said he would sit down with Cuba and have discussions WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS while Hilary stated that she would require Cuba to show some signs of changing or moving into a democracy before she would sit with them. Let's be real...Cuba has run as a dictatorship for over 50 years and the man who is stepping down is being replaced by his brother. HOW MUCH CHANGE DO YOU EXPECT OUT THE GATE? To me, that mentality is the same as Bush... the 'we have nothing to say to each other unless you do things my way' complex. Obama, at least recognizes the unique opportunity to sit down with this man and at least discuss the possibility of change without demanding there is change before they meet. There is a BIG difference between being BOSS and being BOSSY.
#3. I love his ideas for awarding $4000 to each college student who in turn must engage in community service of some type. Being in a fraternity, I've seen 1st hand the difference between the 'haves' and 'have nots'. We are now dealing with a generation of children who have a super sense of entitlement and who think they are owed everything. I think that this gives ALL college students an opportunity every year when they receive that $4000 award, to see how the other side lives. The homeless shelter inhabitants, the community center kids with no father in the house, the nursing home residents with no family etc...
#4. BECAUSE HE IS BLACK. Being a black man I am automatically drawn to him because he is black. Only an idiot would not, personally speaking. But now that I've been drawn in, I find out that he is CAPABLE, intelligent, has new and fresh ideas, and he is NOT corrupt or part of that good old boy network. What is there not to like? We as a people (black people) need to NOT be afraid to support this man because he is black. He is obviously more than just that BUT.... the fact IS... he is black and we can count on him to represent us better than anyone else could. That is something we need to CELEBRATE not be wary of! MLK said one day "we shall overcome". When Obama becomes President (Big P) I will be able to tell my children "WE HAVE OVERCOME". Not because racism will be gone... because it WILL always be there. Not because police will stop racial profiling... because they WILL always do that. We will overcome because the phrase "Anything is possible" and "America is the land of opportunity" will finally be true. Obama becoming President (big P) will not be the answer to all of the problems of the black race. But it will be the answer to all of the problems with black HOPE. No more can we say we cannot achieve anything because of the color of our skin. WHEN the highest position in the land is occupied by a black man, the belief that all things are possible in this land will be undoubtedly true.
These are only some of my reasons why I am supporting Obama. Also, did you notice how Hilary tried to attack him last night with the plagiarism charge or the lack of experience? Obama continued to stay on the issues and not allow himself to be drag down to cat-fight level. What did he call it last night? "Silly Politics"! His character to this point is impeccable Bro!
Someone told me the stupidest thing the other day. She said...and I quote, " America is not ready for a black president or a woman president." She said
" America is traditional and that a woman can lead in some areas but not as president." I almost slapped her but I was in school and there were children around me. Plus, I thought it would be more practical to "slap" her with some knowledge and facts rather than satisfy my initial impluse of knocking some sense into her. In the end we agreed to disagree and I try not to look at her crazy (at least not in front of the kids...just joking). Unfortunately, she is not the first person who has voiced that hopeless and backward point of view (in my opinion) to me. One older black woman explained to me that Hilary is not feminine enough. HUH??? WHat does that mean? I told her that Hilary is a politician. That's enough. Another black lady told me that no one will listen to Hilary because in the MIDDLE EAST they do not respect women. I had to tell her that right now the Middle East and much of the world do not respect us (Americans) period. Thanks to "Dubya" and his chain of fools. Thank goodness Colin Powell ran from that wreck as soon as he could. I think my biggest shock came from a friend of mine today. She told me that Barack won't make it to the WHite House!!! WHAT???? I almost screamed. I am going crazy with the things that I hear from educated folks. Here are the some of the craziest comments..."OBAMA is a black preacher." (QUE?) "They are going to kill him." (WHo is they?) "In the end they will choose McCain." (Again, who is they?) Are we that victimized that all we see is despair? What are the issues folks??? WHat is really important for America and its people (black, white,asian latino)? Is it that we have a black man or a first lady president??? Ok, yes, it's great for history books but what I need to know is how are we going to fix our economy, education, health care, social security, security in general. I think a change is going to come but it's going to take time because whoever makes it to the White House must clean up one big mess. That might take all four years. I hope that America realize change is a process... Especially in politics, where any change must go through 100 senators, loads of House of Reps (depending on the state) and the Supreme Court. No matter who wins, who you choose... remember as one blogger stated here. The change you need must start with you.
Someone I know sent this email to me a little while ago....I thought it was great enough to pass on and post on here. It's long because it's testimony from 3 different people, but your will definitely enjoy the read.
-Bjorn
-------------------------
Hi everyone,
I don't usually get involved in politics, but like so many people this year, I'm really excited about the potential change that Barack Obama offers, so I wanted to toss out a pitch to encourage you to support him and spread the momentum yourself.
Certainly Clinton and McCain are smart, capable people with many years in Washington, but I think Senator Obama's ability to bring people together and get things done in new, creative ways could really inspire and unite the country. He could also help us regain the trust and respect of people around the world.
As Governor Patrick of Massachusetts said recently in the Boston Globe, "Once in a generation, a candidate comes along who is committed to more than succeeding at the partisan food fight in Washington. Once in a generation, a candidate comes along who is both book smart and street smart, who is equally at ease with the meek and the mighty - and perhaps most especially with himself. Once in a generation, we get the opportunity to take a quantum leap forward in our politics. Barack Obama is that candidate and this is our opportunity. I don't care if it's not his turn, because I know in my head and in my heart that it is his time."
Pasted at the end of this email are interesting messages from two friends who sent similar pitches encouraging their friends to support Obama. I was inspired by what they wrote, so I'd like to pass it on. Instead of repeating what they said so well I'll just put out a few ideas to consider if you support Obama.
Some ways to spread the momentum
1. Obviously, if your state hasn't voted yet, go out and vote :)
2. Forward this email to your contacts, or write and send your own. Or some combination. If you want to put together a big list, great. But at least encourage a few people today -- especially anyone you know in the states that are about to vote: Virginia, DC, Maryland.
3. Donate to the Obama campaign. If you use the following link, your pledge will be matched by another donor: https://donate.barackobama.com/match. I gave $100 yesterday and it was immediately matched by a donor in South Carolina, effectively making it $200. His campaign is doing well right now, but it will need all the help it can get to win the big battleground states: Texas, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
4. The barackobama.com web site lists other ways to get involved, like making phone calls.
5. Show your support through things like bumper stickers and pins. If you can't find them in stores, you can order them from the web site.
Remember that the Democratic delegates are awarded proportionally. So every vote shifts the balance of delegates a little more, regardless of who wins the state overall. Obama is slightly ahead now in delegates from the votes, but Clinton is slightly ahead including the super delegates. I think it's critical to get him to a clear victory in total delegates so this doesn't become a divisive fight at the convention.
Even if you're not convinced that Obama is necessarily the better of the two Democratic candidates, consider what's likely to happen in the general election. It's increasingly clear that in the general election, Obama will attract many Republican and Independent voters. On the other hand, Clinton would be a very polarizing candidate, which would probably drive support in the other direction. Several polls from the past week show that Obama would currently beat McCain by a margin of around 7 points, while Clinton would lose or tie him. Of course, the Republicans have barely begun to bring out the inevitable attacks on Clinton.
Thanks for reading this and getting involved. I hope you'll join me and millions of other people in what could be a great turning point for politics and our country.
If you agree about Obama, I'd be interested to hear from you to trade ideas and information. Or if you don't support Obama and don't want me spamming you any more, just let me know and I'll gladly take you off my list :)
Begin forwarded message:
> Date: February 4, 2008 11:17:52 PM EST
> Subject: A hope that you can join me in supporting Barack Obama
>
> Friend,
>
> Though I'm fairly passionate about politics I'm generally shy about sharing that with folks who aren't as outspoken as I am but in this 5th year of the war in Iraq I'm making an exception because I feel so strongly about the direction this country has been heading and I want to see it reversed so please forgive this intrusion for a moment or two.
>
> In a different democracy my support would go to a amalgam of Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul, someone who would work to reign in the military industrial complex and defend our constitution but in the absence of that and with the likelyhood that Ron Paul will falter, I'm casting about for the next candidate who can help this country achieve those goals. The current administration has so badly screwed up that I'm meeting people who've voted solidly republican for 50 years that are registering as Democrats for the first time in their lives. Against that backdrop I believe that our next president is going to be whomever wins the Democratic primary and between the two of them I believe Barack is the logical choice for several reasons:
>
> The war: Hillary gave the administration her blessing when Barack was fighting against the invasion of Iraq. I consider that to be a huge lapse in judgement on Hillary's part. I don't think it took much imagination to see where Bush and Cheney were heading when she voted to give them authority to invade - trying to appeal to her liberal base while appearing strong on security. In short I feel Hillary and the Congress abrogated their responsibilities to the country.
>
> Corruption: Barack is young. If he's been corrupted by power, it's corrosive effect hasn't been working on him as long as it's been working its magic on the Clinton and Bush families. Barack and Michelle are still paying down their student loans while Bill and Hillary are swinging deals with companies like WAL*MART and guys like this:
>
> http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/us/politics/31donor.html?_r=1&em&ex=1201928400&en=30526cefe8453a3c&ei=5070&oref=slogin
>
> Oligarchs are surrounded by sycophants and so it's difficult for them to see how a failure to reign in mischief is as nearly as corrosive as the original mischief. Barack's dad is from a dirt-poor country and his mother was a single-mom. He's spent time in Indonesia so he's got a sense of the world that's far broader in scope than any other candidate. In contrast, Hillary's travels through the rest of the world were by invitation from people of power - places like Davos, Switzerland.
>
> Division: Hillary is a very polarizing figure. I know many republicans who deeply despise her and the Clinton name with a passion. Hillary's nomination will galvanize the opposition and greatly improve the odds of whichever opposition candidate is selected. I cannot stomach the thought of another 4 years of mindless bloodshed and death paid for by my tax dollar. If you've been watching the debates you saw a glimpse of the Clinton machine in operation trying to turn Barack's win in South Carolina into a black-v-white referendum when that was the furthest thing from the truth. Those kinds of politics are being repudiated this year and I think it makes Hillary unelectable.
>
> I have other reservations but I've taken enough of your time. I hope you can give these some consideration before you head into the voting booth tomorrow. You are heading into the voting booth tomorrow, aren't you?
>
> Thanks for listening, and feel free to pass this along to anyone who's on the fence.
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>> Date: January 28, 2008 10:48:12 PM EST
>> Subject: Obama in '08
>>
>> I plan on voting for Senator Obama tomorrow.
>>
>> I share the same view as Caroline Kennedy in that my idea of a president is someone who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved. I feel that Senator Obama could be a uniter of the parties.
>>
>> His plan for restoring fiscal discipline is viable and attainable. His education platform is sound, he believes that in order for the No Child Left Behind to work it has to be reformed. I like his idea of pairing math and science teachers with professional in the field. Give teachers better pay and support in exchange for more accountability. If we don't change the emphasis on education in the US countries like India will roll right over us. Our dependency on foreign oil needs to be broken and Senator Obama plan will invest in a clean energy future. My eyes were greatly opened to the problem of immigration in this country after watching, Immigration by the Numbers by Roy Beck, http://www.youtube.com/watc h?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ. absolutely frightening! Sentator Obama's approach looks fair and well thought out. On Faith he also laid down principles for how to discuss faith in a pluralistic society, including the need for religious people to translate their concerns into universal, rather than religion-specific, values during public debate. He is strong on strengthening fatherhood and families, is working to Expand Retirement Savings Incentives for Working Families.
>>
>> Okay, I will get off my soap box now....for a little while.
>>
>> Obama in '08!
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